An additional Victorian coastal waters zone

As of 28 October 2008, Victoria will have four coastal waters zones instead
of three. The current East coast zone which covers Wilson's Promontory to Gabo
Island will be split into two zones at Lakes Entrance. The new boundary will
be located between Lakes Entrance and Flinders Island forming two coastal zones
named Central Gippsland Coast and East Gippsland Coast.

This new division will provide mariners with more detailed coastal waters
forecast information between Wilson's Promontory and Gabo Island.

The four Victorian coastal waters zones are summarised as follows:

West Coast
- SA/VIC border to Cape Otway

Central coast - Cape Otway to Wilson's Promontory

Central Gippsland Coast -
Wilson's Promontory to Lakes Entrance

East Gippsland Coast - Lakes Entrance
to Gabo Island

Current map of Victorian marine forecast zones
until 28 October 2008

New map of Victorian marine forecast zones
from 28 October 2008

Port Phillip and Western Port to have separate Forecasts and Warnings

Forecasts for Port Phillip and Western Port are currently issued as a combined
text-based product. This also applies to the warnings for these two areas.
As of 28 October 2008, Port Phillip and Western Port local waters forecasts
and warnings will be available as separate products. Separating Port Phillip
and Western Port will provide a more detailed level of forecast information
for these two adjacent local waters areas.
Also, terminology for wave information in these forecasts will be consistent
with the coastal waters forecasts. Therefore sea (or wind) waves will be referred
as 'Seas' in the forecasts.

Improvements to Coastal and Local Waters warnings

Coastal and local waters marine warnings have been improved to highlight the
worst conditions expected within the next 24 hours. Warnings will focus on
the highest winds and highest waves expected in a designated area. Note
that these highest winds are averages and do not include gusts. Similarly the
highest waves are the significant waves and not maximum waves. For more information
on wind and waves see: About
marine services.
Mariners are reminded that more detailed information is contained
within the coastal and local waters forecasts.

The highest waves are derived from the expected total wave height and consistent
with terminology used in coastal waters forecasts, the highest waves will be
referred as 'Combined sea and swell'.